State Tournament Preview: Division 2
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MADISON — Who will take home the gold ball in Division 2? Prep Hoops Wisconsin takes a closer look at the four finalists headed to the Kohl Center this weekend… NO. 1 PEWAUKEE vs. NO. 4 NICOLET At 24-4 overall,…
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Continue ReadingMADISON — Who will take home the gold ball in Division 2? Prep Hoops Wisconsin takes a closer look at the four finalists headed to the Kohl Center this weekend…
NO. 1 PEWAUKEE vs. NO. 4 NICOLET
At 24-4 overall, Nicolet very well could feel some type of way about their seed. The Knights have a viable case for being as high as a 2-seed, certainly a 3. Instead, they get the two-time defending state champs in the semifinals.
Touted sophomore wing Davion Hannah Davion Hannah 6'5" | SF Nicolet | 2025 State #33 Nation WI (19.8 ppg) has been the real deal all season. Leading a young team, Nicolet figures to be a mainstay in Madison for a while, featuring sophomore guard David Bolden David Bolden 6'0" | PG Nicolet | 2025 State WI (12.1 ppg) and freshman guard Rashaad Davis Rashaad Davis 5'10" | PG Nicolet | 2026 State WI (10.1 ppg).
The Pirates aren’t as untouchable as they’ve been, but they’re still the cream of the crop in this field. Junior guard Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (23.7 ppg) and Iowa State commit Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (23.0 ppg) are good enough to get Pewaukee by most teams. As usual, they’ve also got a handful of role players you can’t forget about — sophomore Luka Momcilovic Luka Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2025 State WI (8.7 ppg), sophomore guard Isaiah Robinson Isaiah Robinson 6'1" | SG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI (7.0 ppg), and senior Kaeden Osterman Kaeden Osterman 6'2" | SG Pewaukee | 2023 WI (5.4 ppg).
Sitting at 25-3 overall, Pewaukee has lost just one game while at full strength.
NO. 2 LA CROSSE CENTRAL vs. NO. 3 WHITNALL
This has a chance to be a sneaky good game.
La Crosse Central was the runner-up a year ago and upended favorite Onlaska to get back to Madison for the eighth time in essentially nine years (tournament wasn’t held in 2019-20, but they did qualify). Senior guard Nic Williams Nic Williams 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2023 State WI (16.8 ppg) senior wing Bennett Fried Bennett Fried 6'6" | SF La Crosse Central | 2023 State WI (16.3 ppg) have been around the block, paid their dues, and been in this moment before. Junior guard Henry Meyer Henry Meyer 6'3" | SG La Crosse Central | 2024 State WI (16.3 ppg) has come out of nowhere this season and is having one of the better years people aren’t talking about. The River Hawks plays a methodical style that’s tough to prepare for, and most importantly, they don’t beat themselves i.e. turnovers, bad shots, defensive breakdowns.
Despite losing their best two players from last season, Whitnall has made a surprisingly quick turnaround. Sophomore guard Jack Lutz Jack Lutz 6'0" | SG Whitnall | 2025 State WI (17.7 ppg) has emerged as a bonafide scorer. Senior guard Austin Herro Austin Herro 6'2" | CG Whitnall | 2023 State WI (15.3 ppg) and sophomore guard Myles Herro Myles Herro 6'2" | PG Whitnall | 2025 State #237 Nation WI are also two of the better on-the-ball playmakers in the state. This team gets really scary when senior center Ethan Thomas Ethan Thomas 6'7" | PF Whitnall | 2023 State WI gets involved and dominates games on the interior.
PREDICTIONS
Semifinals
(1) Pewuakee over (4) Nicolet
(3) Whitnall over (2) La Crosse Central
State Championship
(1) Pewaukee over (3) Whitnall